Life-saving boat



Sept. 30, 1930. s. PlESlK LIFE SAVING BOAT Filed Nov. 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 512/4 22 Plies Z71" A-ri-onuiv Sept. 30, 1930. s. PIESIK LIFE SAVING BOAT 2 Sheets-sheaf. 2

Filed Nov. 29, 1929 mvENTR ATTORNIV Patented Sept. 39, 1930 FFHCE STEFAN PIESIK, F MONNT' UNION, PENNSYLVANIA LIFE-SAVING BOAT Application filed November 29, 1929. Serial No. 410,565.

This invention relates to boats and more particularly to a novel propelling means for small boats such as are designed for life saving and fishing purposes and for short trips and the invention contemplates a propelling means which will be propelled by hand, and has as one of its objects to provide a novel arrangement of gears whereby propellers, which are rotated through the hand driven mechanism will be roted at ahigh speed with minimum exertion upon the part of the one operating the said mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a propelling mechanism of the class referred to, means whereby, while the mechanism is designed primarily to be propelled by two persons, it may be operated by one person. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel steering mechanism including steering wheels which are so arranged with respect to the operating means for the propellers that either operator of the propeller means may steer the boat in which the mechanism is installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for so mounting the rudder of the boat that when the boat is not in use the rudder may be readily dismounted and stored in the boat to avoid damage thereto while the boat is docked.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed vout in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section illustrating the mechanism embodying the invention installed in an open boat.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism and the boat in which it is installed.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig ure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line H of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the manner in which the transmission gear may be adjusted so as to permit one present to operate the gear without the necessity of having to operate that portion of said gearing which. in the ordinary use of the boat equipped with the invention, would be operated by another 00- cupant of the boat.

Figure 6 is a similar View illustrating one of the gear elements of the mechanism adjusted for the purposestated.

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the steering mechanism actuating means.

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 7 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 9 is a view in end elevation illustrating a part shown in Figures '7 and 8.

Figure 10 is a. vertical transverse sectional view on the line 1010 of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the manner of mounting the rudder of the .boat.

Figure 12 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the means for holding the upper end of the rudder staff in position.

Figure 13 is a front elevation of the said means shown in Figure 12 Figure 14 is a top plan view of the bearing for the lower end of the rudder staif.

Figure 15 is a view in elevation illustrating the manner in which provision is made for operation of the propeller gearing by more than one person for each unit.

The hull of the boat in which the mechanism of the present invention is installed is indicated by the numeral 1 and Within the hull there is arranged a flooring 2 and a seat 3, near the bow of the boat, for the person or persons who are to operate the mechanism for driving the propellers, other seats being, of course, provided within the hull as may be found desirable.

The mechanism for operating the propeller, which propeller is indicated in the drawings by the numeral 4, comprises a shaft 5 which is mounted in suitable bearings 6 upon cross pieces 7 extending between the sides of the hull, the numeral 8 indicating a fly wheel which is rotatably mounted upon one end of the shaft 5 namely the right hand end, and a crank handle 9 extends from the fly wheel and constitutes means whereby the fly wheel may be manually rotated. A bevel gear 10 is formed integrally with the fly wheel 8 or is fixed with respect thereto and meshes with a bevel pinion 11 mounted at the upper end of a shaft 12, which extends downwardly through an opening 13 in the flooring 2. The shaft 12 is provided at its lower end with a pinion 14 and this pinion meshes with a gear 15 which is rotatable with a bevel gear 16.

A pinion 17 corresponding to the pinion 14 also meshes with the gear 15 and is. mounted at the lower end of a shaft 18 which corresponds to theshaft 12, and the bevel pinion 19, fixed at the upper end of the shaft 18 is in mesh with a bevel gear 20 which corresponds to the bevel gear 10, except that this gear 20 is fixedly mounted at one end of a sleeve 21 and rotatably fitted onto the other end of the shaft 5, and this sleeve extends through the respective bearings 6, and the said gear 20 is located at one side of the bear ing, and the fly wheel 22 is mounted upon the other end of the said sleeve for rotation therewith and provided with a crank handle 23 whereby rotary motion may be imparted to the said fly wheel. At this point it will be evident that the crank handles 9 and 23 will be operated so as to effect rotation of the fly wheels 8 and 22 in the same direction, namely that indicated by the arrows in Figure 3, and therefore, the gears 10 and 20 will be rotated in the same direction as also the bevel pinions 11 and 19 and the pinions 14 and 17. The propeller shaft is indicated by the numeral 24 and this shaft is journalled in suitable bearings 25 and 26 mounted in the hull of the boat beneath the flooring 2, the shaft being provided upon its rear end with a bevel pinion 25 which is in mesh with the bevel gear 15 and being in this manner rotated so as to rotate the propeller 4 below the surface of the water.

The invention contemplates the provision of a second propeller indicated by the numeral 26 and which propeller is located well above the water surface, being fixed upon the shaft 27 and mounted in bearings 28 at the bow of the hull, A bevel pinion 29 is fixed upon the rear end of the shaft 27 and meshes with a bevel gear 30 which is mounted at the upper end of a shaft 31 journalled in bearings 32 and 33. A pinion 34 is fixed at the lower end of the shaft 31 and is in mesh with a gear 35 which is fixed upon the shaft 36 journalled in a step bearing 37 upon the bottom of the hull, a bevel gear 38 being fixed upon the shaft 36 and meshing with a bevel pinion 39 mounted upon the forward end of the propeller shaft 24. It will now be evident that rotation of the fly wheels 8 and 22, or either of said wheels, will effect rotation of the shafts 24 and 27 for the propellers 4 and 26 respectively. The propeller 4 of course constitutes means for propelling the boat through the water, whereas the propeller 26 not only assists in propelling the boat but also has a tendency to somewhat lift the bow of the boat so as. to facilitate the passage of the hull through the water and the speed of travel of the boat thereby increased.

In order that the gearing above described may be changed so as to permit of the same being operated by one man instead of two, the gears 14 and 17 are preferably connected with the shafts 12 and 18 by a spline 40 and therefore the pinion 14 may be shifted upwardly upon the shaft 12, so as to disengage from the gear 15, and set screws 41 are fitted through the collars 42 upstanding from the pinions 14 and 17 as the case may be, and these set screws are located at opposite sides of each collar and may be adjusted so as to bind against the shaft 12 and hold the pinion in its elevated position as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing. Disengagement of the pin ion 14 or 17 frbm the pinion 16 serves to render the gear system at this side thereof in active, so that the single operator of the mechanism is not requlred to exert the force which would be necessary to rotate both systems of gearing as if it were not possible to shift the pinion 14 or the pinion 17 to the elevated position out of mesh with the gear 15.

The rudder for the boat is indicated by the numeral 43 and is mounted upon a staff 44.

which at its upper end is journalled in a hearing indicated in general by the numeral 45. This bearing includes a fixed member 46 supported by brackets 47 anchored to the stern of the hull and extending a short distance in rear of the same, and also a member 48 which is hingedly connected as indicated by the numeral 49 at one side of the said member 46, the members being recessed in their meeting sides to provide an opening for the shaft 44. A threaded Stud 50 is carried by the member 48, and a nut 52 is threaded onto the stud 50, and a pin 53 is fitted through openings in the nut, and a diametric opening in the stud 50 so as to hold the nut against unthread- I ing although, when it is desired to dismount the propeller staff and store the propeller in the boat hull, the pin may be withdrawn a chain or other flexible connection 54 being connected thereto, and the nut then loosened or removed so as to permit the hinged section l8 of the bearing to be swung to open position.

The lower end of the rudder staff l4 is provided with a collar 55 and the lower extremity thereof is tapered to a point as indicated the numeral 56 and for this end of the there is provided a bearing block 57 h is mounted between the rear ends of bracl nembers 58 at the stern of the hull and this hearing block is provided with an opening 55), the lower portion of which is of a dimension to accommodate the lower end of the staff and the upper portion of which is flared, indicated by the numeral 60 so that little difficulty will be experienced in guiding the lower end of the staff into the bearing; although this bearing is located below the surface of the water. Likewise the flared end of the opening provides for more ready diseng eeme'nt of the lower end of the rudder a the bearing. The numeral 61 indicates a steering arm or cross piece for the rudder, which is mounted at a point midway between its ends upon the upper end of the staff 414; and to the ends of which are connected, by headed pivot pins 62, small connecting links 63 to which are connected cables which led through the opposite sides of the stern of the hull and through guides 65 arranged at intervals along the railing of the hull, these cables being led inwardly through openings in the bow of the hull and through guide eyes 66 which are mounted upon the upper side of the hull at the said how.

From these eyes the cables are led to and connected to drums 67 which are fixed upon the shaft 68 mounted in bearings 69 which are located at the outer sides of and in front of the fly wheels 8 and 22, and a hand wheel 70 is fixed upon the said ends of the shaft, and may be manually rotated to rotate the drums 67 to wind up or pay out the cables 64. The bearing 69 for each end of the shaft 68 is formed with a rectangular socket 71. and a block 72 of rectangular form is fitted in this socket, and a compression spring 73 is arranged within the socket and bears against the closed end thereof and against the inner end of the block 72, the block 72 being provided in its outwardly presented side with recesses 74 radiating from the opening through which the shaft 68 extends and cor responding recesses being located diametrically opposite each other so that correspondingly beveled projections 7 5 upon the shaft 68 will engage in oppositely located ones of the said recesses. Secured to and projecting from the side of the bearing 69 is a bracket plate 76, to which are secured the lower ends of tension springs '77, these springs being connected at their upper ends as at 78 to the ends of a bearing member having its intermediate portion deflected upwardly, to provide at its under side, a flat bearing surface 79 to be engaged by either of the two flat sides 80 of the shaft 68.

At this point it will be understood that when the shaftis rotated to position with either of its flat sides 80 abutting the flat boat by grasping the crank handle 9 thereon,

but if it is found necessary to exert more power, each handle may be lengthened in the manner shown in Figure 15 of the drawing so that two or more personsmay cooperate in rotating each fly wheel.

What I claim is 1. In a boat of the class described, a propeller shaft, a propeller upon said shaft, means for imparting rotary motion to said shaft comprising a power shaft, a sleeve rotatable upon one end portion of the power shaft, bevel gears fixed upon the sleeve and the other end portion of the power shaft, a fly wheel rotatable with each gear, a crank handle upon each fly wheel, shafts mounted counter to the propeller shaft and the power shaft, operative gear connection between the counter shafts and the propeller shaft, and bevel pinions on the counter shafts meshing with the bevel gears upon the power shaft sleeve, the said gear connection embodying gear elements selectively shiftable to interrupt transmission of power from the power shaft to a respective one of the counter shafts.

2'. In a boat of the class described, a propeller shaft, a propeller upon said shaft, means for imparting rotary motion to said shaft comprising a power shaft, a sleeve rotatable upon oneend portion of the power shaft, bevel gears fixed upon the sleeve and the other end portion of the power shaft, a fly wheel rotatable with each gear, a crank handle upon each fiv wheel, shafts mounted counter to the propeller shaft and the power shaft, operative gear connection between the counter shafts and the propeller shaft, and bevel pinions on the counter shafts meshing with the bevel gears upon the power shaft and sleeve, the gear connection embodying a bevel pinion upon the propeller shaft, a bevel gear meshing with the said bevel pinion, a gear rotatable with the bevel gear, and pinions upon the counter shafts meshing with the last mentioned gear and vertically slidable thereon whereby to be selectively movable out of mesh with said gear and to provide for the application of power to the propeller shaft through the rotation of but one of the said fly wheels and the associated bevel gear.

3. In a boat of the class described, a propeller shaft, a propeller upon said shaft, means for imparting rotary motion to said shaft comprising a power shaft, a sleeve rotatable upon one end portion of the power shaft, bevel gears fixed upon the sleeve and the other end portion of the power shaft, a fly wheel rotatable with each gear, a crank handle upon each fiy wheel, shafts mounted counter to the propeller shaft and the power shaft, operative gear connection between the counter shafts and the propeller shaft, bevel pinions on the counter shafts meshing with the bevel gears upon the power shaft sleeve, the said gear connection embodying gear elements selectively shiftable to interrupt transmission of power from the power shaft to a respective one of the counter shafts, another shaft mounted counter to the propeller shaft, a pinion upon said counter shaft meshing with an element of the apparatus, gear connection between the first mentioned counter shafts and the propeller shaft, a propeller shaft mounted upon the boat above water level, a propeller on said shaft above water level, and operative gear connection between the last mentioned counter shaft and propeller shaft.

4. In a boat of the class described, a propeller shaft, a propeller upon said shaft, means for imparting rotary motion to said shaft comprising a power shaft, a sleeve rotatable upon one end portion of the power shaft, bevel gears fixed upon the sleeve and the other end portion of the power shaft, a

fly wheel rotatable with each gear, a crank handle upon each fly wheel, shafts mounted counter to the propeller shaft and the power shaft, operative gear connection between the counter shafts and the propeller shaft, bevel pinions on the counter shafts meshing with the bevelgears upon the power shaft and sleeve, the said gear connection embodying gear elements selectively shiftable to interrupt transmission of power from the power shaft to a respective one of the counter shafts, a rudder at the stern of the boat, a shaft upon which the rudder is mounted. a steering arm upon the shaft, drums mounted for rotation adjacent the bow of the boat, indi vidual hand wheels for individual rotation of said drums, and cables connected to the rudder arm and wound each about a respective one of the said drums.

5. In a boat of the class described, a propeller shaft, a propeller upon said shaft, means for imparting rotary motion to said shaft comprising a power shaft, a sleeve rotatable upon one end portion of the power shaft, bevel gears fixed upon the sleeve and the other end portion of the power shaft, a fly wheel rotatable with each gear, a crank handle upon each fly wheel, shafts mounted counter to the propeller shaft and the power shaft, operative gear connection between the counter shafts and the propeller shaft, bevel pinions on the counter shafts meshing with the bevel gears upon the power shaft and sleeve, the said gear connection embodying gear elements selectively shiftable to interrupt transmission of power from the power shaft to a respective one of the counter shafts, a rudder at the stern of the boat, a shaft upon which the rudder is mounted, a steering arm upon the shaft, drums mounted for rotation adjacent the bow of the boat, individual hand wheels for individually rotating said drums, and cables connected to the rudder and wound each about a respective one of the said drums, the drums being mounted upon a common shaft, the bearing for each end of the shaft having a hollow head interiorly of rectangular form, a hearing bushing slidably mounted in" the head, the said bushing being rectangular in form and provided in its outer end with recesses extending radially with respect to the shaft, outstanding projections upon the shaft engageable in said recesses, the shaft, at the outer end of each drum being flat at one side, and a bearing member yieldably held in bearing engagement with the said portion of the shaft and engageable against the said flat side of the shaft in one position of rotation of the shaft, to hold the shaft against rotation and thereby maintain the rudder in the position to which it has been adjusted through the rotation of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

STEFAN PIESIK. 

